A lot's changed since the 1980s – fashion, music... and, of course, language.

BBC Two's new sitcom White Gold is set in the decade that style forgot and features one character, Fitzpatrick (James Buckley), using racist insults.

"There are a couple of lines from Fitzpatrick, which are quite openly racist," writer Damon Beesley told Digital Spy. "He uses some Irish stereotypes which you haven't heard since the '80s, about being thick."

But Beesley was quick to point out that not only is Fitzpatrick's behaviour true of the era, but the character "gets picked up on it immediately".

"We're always careful about how we justify these things to ourselves. It's important to have those moments in there, and I don't shy away from them being funny. As long as it's dealt with in the right way and it's not just there for gratuity, it makes it more real."

"We weren't particularly PC in The Inbetweeners either," said Buckley, who's reuniting with Beesley after working together on the hit E4 sitcom. "We're not out to offend anyone, by any means. We're just out to make people laugh.

"It's not even questionable behaviour – he's just an arsehole at times!" the actor said. "But in terms of the story, he definitely hits a ceiling, he doesn't get away with bloody murder. He gets shut out.

"He's not a malicious guy, but he is someone that is trying to make a career and do it for his family, and taking advantage of an opportunity that's been presented to him."